The Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr G.N. Saibaba has appealed to the Supreme Court to review its decision of suspending the paraplegic professor’s acquittal in a 2013 Maoist links case.

“The Defence Committee for the Release of Saibaba felt that the Bombay High Court judgment (of Friday, acquitting Saibaba and fellow convicts) finally did justice to Saibaba and others who have been incarcerated for the last almost seven years. The reversal of judgment in great hurry is a reflection on the justice system in India,” the committee said in a statement.

“The observation of the (apex) court that he has a powerful mind is negation of the essence of freedom of thought. J.S. Mill wrote in his book On Liberty that ‘Unrestrained freedom of thought is the hallmark of democracy’.”

While suspending the acquittals on Saturday, the apex court had, in the context of Saibaba’s disabilities, said: “For terrorism and Naxal activities, brain usage is more important than any other physical involvement.”

The defence committee statement said: “The judiciary must protect the freedoms of the citizens. It has to balance the freedoms of the citizens and power of the State, if they have to err it should be on the side of freedom.”